Cricket 1895

“ Together joined in Cricket’s manly toil.” — Byron. ~ ' No. 3 8 6 . VOL. X IV . Registered for Transmission Abroad. H A R D H I T T E R S . B y R ich ard D a f t . Besides being very entertaining to large bodies of spectators who attend cricket grounds, the hard hitters are often of vital importance to their side. They can often get rid of some awkward bowlers who are proving troublesome, and they are most useful to their side when time is precious. It is pleasant for us old stagers to look back and call to mind the great hitters from the days of Alfred Mynn down to our own time. I can well recollect that whenever “ Alfred the Great” appeared at the wicket there was a general movement of the fielders towards the boundaries, and a chorus of applause from the spectators. Mynn’s hitting was principally driving, and generally fast footed—sometimes, indeed, he gave a jump in the air, but always, it was said, dropped down in the same place. Like most powerful drivers who are big men, Mynn was always on the look out fora ball a little “ up” on his legs. Like myself at the present time, he preferred an “ on” drive to an “ off,” He was invincible at single wicket owing to the great forward hitting powers he possessed added to his fine fast bowling. Mynn was better against fast bowling than against slow, and that was easy to understand when one was acquainted with his style of batting. Fuller Pilch, his com­ rade in arms, was also a fine driver of the “ fast footed” school. Indeed in these days batsmen seldom or never used their feet, and in this presented a great con­ trast to those who succeeded them such as George Parr, Carpenter, Hayward, Dr. E. M. Grace, and others. Pilch was not not anything like so persistent a hard hitter as Mr. Mynn, although he could hit very hard indeed when he liked, as he was a tall powerful man, with broad muscular shoulders THURSDAY, M A Y 2, 1895. and arms. Of Pilch’s play I can only speak at second hand, as I only saw him bat once, and that wras in practice; but I have often heard his play described by those who played with and against him. Although Mr. Mynn has been called ‘ *the monarch of hard hitters ” he was not nearly so good a hitter to leg as either Pilch or George Parr, neither did he shine at cutting a ball as did the other two. As I saidbefore, driving was his game, he excelled atthis, was thoroughly conscious that he did so, and “ sethimself ” that kind of play. When first I became a regular member of the All England and the Notts Elevens one of the hardest hitters I used to meet was old ‘ ‘ Ben ’ ’ Griffith of Surrey (whose real Christian name was George). UnlikeMynn and Pilch, he was below medium height, but possessedherculean shoulders, and this indeed is required for any man to be a really hard hitter. I well remember throwing old Griffith out from long leg at the Oval once, and a very good thing it was for us too, as he was in his best form that day, and had already made a lot of runs and was knocking out bowlers all over the ground. Griffith was one of the most dangerous bats of his day, and was just the man to pull a match “ out of the fire ” at a critical hour. George Anderson was another magnificent hitter, but was altogether a more scientific batter than Griffith. Against fast bowling I have seldom seen a more effective bat. George was a very big man, but was by no means clumsy in any of his movements. One of the hardest hitters for his size and weight was Cris Tinley. Although such a slight man he seemed to have the strength of a giant at times, but then Cris hit with his whole body as it were. Every ounce of strength he had, he seemed to put forth at the right moment. One of the finest hitters we had in my own county was Martin M‘Intyre. Standing full six feet high, and PR ICE 2d. being loosely and proportionately built, he was the very model of a hard driver. Had he taken more pains, no man would have had a better chance than M‘Intyre. I have seen him play some of the finest hit innings of my experience, and then for a short time what a splendid fast bowler he was! If the wicket helped him at all he was almost unplayable. Whenever “ hitting” is mentioned one always thinks of Mr. C. I. Thornton. Never probably in the history of the game has there been a more- vigorous and powerful hitter than this gentleman. He again wras built for this kind of game, being probably one of the strongest men who ever achieved success as a cricketer. For a consistent run getter for a great number of years, and for a scientific batsman in all ways, it would perhaps be im­ possible to find the equal of George Ulyett. From the very first time I saw him handle a bat I predicted great things of him. In some of his play, in the way he can leave his ground to drive a slow bowler for instance, he somewhat resembles Carpenter at his best. Oscroft might be classed as a similar player to Ulyett, being indeed a finer leg hitter, but not so quick on his feet as the Yorkshireman. Oscroft had, however, a more pleasing style of defence, especially in his back play. Oscroft’s best drive I always used to think was from an overtossed ball on his legs. It is impossible of course in this place to mention all the great hitters one has known and admired, such as Julius Cassar, Mr. Hornby, Mr. R. A. H. Mitchell, and scores of others, but these last named were so excellent in defence as well, that one is apt to forget their great hitting powers when one remembers the long innings we have seen them play, and the thousands of difficult balls they have had to stop, on bad wickets enough too, on many occasions.